Packaging apparatus



Jan. 9, 1962 Filed May 16, 1960 d E m P. N. DOTZENROTH PACKAGING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. P401. M Daze-wear Jan. 9, 1962 Filed May 16, 1960 FIZZ-3! E P. N. DOTZENROTH 3,015,921

PACKAGING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. P004 4'. Dora's/marl! 1962 P. N. DOTZENROTH 3,015,921

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet s FIE: L5

INVENTOR. P401. 4 D arzewz 071/ lrraR/ve-ys Jan. 9, 1962 p. N. DOTZENROTH 3,015,921

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 a FIG 4 INVENTOR.

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PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. P 01. Al. Dorzzweonl BY I Jan. 9, 1962 N. DOTZENROTH 3,

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. P00: IV. DOTZE'AIROTII BYZLKQW.glm-ina Jrra mve'r:

1962 P. N. DOTZENROTH 3,015,921

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

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PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 l 95 ll l INVENTOR. P4 A- DOTZEA/RO 7'6 Jrromv 9s United States Patent 3,015,921 PACKAGING APPARATUS Paul N. Dotzenrotii, Minneapolis, Minn.; Gloria B. Dotzenroth and T. E. Holloran, executors of said Paul N. Dotzenroth, deceased. assignors to Baker Engineering Corp., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 16, 1969. 'Ser. No. 29,353 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-471) This invention relates to an apparatus for packaging novelty articles, and particularly articles such as of a confection of the popsicle type. It is a common practice to package popsicles by hand. Said popsicles after being formed are generally individually inserted into envelopes and then certain numbers of these are packed into containers. This two-step hand packing operation is a relatively slow one and results in a relatively high unit handling cost. It is desirable therefore to have an apparatus adapted to automatically perform the otherwise manual operations of receiving and packaging popsicles to increase the rate of handling speed, to reduce the unit handling cost and to improve the sanitation conditions of handling the confection by having the confection completely free from human or hand handling.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide an apparatus for automatically receiving, handling and packaging a confection such as a popsicle.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus adapted to receive a continuous supply of popsicles, to respectively place the same into individual envelopes and to place or pack predetermined numbers of said popsicles into containers or packing cartons.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an apparatus for receiving a continuous supply of popsicles and to be supplied with envelopes, to position and open said envelopes to respectively receive said popsicles, to place said popsicles individually respectively into said envelopes, and to place predetermined numbers of said popsicles into packing cartons or containers and to position said popsicles in said cartons or containers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. I is a view of applicants apparatus showing one side thereof in elevation, with some parts thereof being broken away and some parts being shown in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a view of applicants apparatus in front end elevation;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of applicants apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view of applicants apparatus in rear end elevation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that in FIG. 1 showing the other side of applicants apparatus in elevation, with some parts thereof being broken away, some parts shown in alternate position in dotted line, and some parts thereof being shown in dotted line;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of applicants apparatus in elevation on an enlarged scale, with some parts thereof being broken away and some parts being shown in dotted line;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale taken on line 77 of FIG. 6, as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale in vertical section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4, as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a view in operation and is similar to that shown in FIG. 8 with portions thereof shown in dotted line in alternate position;

FIG. 10 is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale in horizontal section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 5, as indicated by the arrows, with some parts thereof being broken away and some parts shown in dotted line;

FIG. 11 shows broken away cooperating portions of a detail of applicants apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a broken away portion on an enlarged scale taken on line 1212 of FIG. 11, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the basic frame of applicants apparatus is irregularly formed and is particularly adapted to support the various elements mounted there- Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 7, the rear end portion of the basic frame 10 is formed having upstanding frame members 12 and 13 supported on leveling screws 12a and 13a respectively and having a cross member 15 extending across the upper ends thereof secured by bolts 17. Said frame member has forwardly extending base members 19 and 20 integral at one end with said upstanding members 12 and 13 and being braced therewith by corner brace members 22 and 23 with their free ends being respectively supported on adjacent of the radially extending floor engaging members 25. Upstanding centrally of said radially extending members 25 is a pyramidically formed supporting member 29 comprising a plurality of upwardly inclined frame members 30 supporting a bearing block 31 of a common construction. In vertical axial alinement with said bearing block 31 is a bearing block 33 bolted to a frame member 35 supported by a box-like frame member 36 resting on an inner adjacent portion of radial members 25. Iournaled between said bearing blocks 33 and 31 is a shaft 38 having mounted thereon at its lower portion a sprocket 40. Said shaft 38 extends upwardly of said bearing block 31 to support a substantially circular turntable 42 by the depending hub portion 42a of said turntable. Said turntable will be further described hereinafter.

Mounted onto a frame secured supporting plate 45 by a bracket 46 is a compressor 48 to which further reference will be made hereinafter. Adjacent said compressor and secured to a frame supported plate 50 by bolts 51 is a suitable type of electric motor 52. which will be connected to a source of power.

Metering box and adjacent structure Upstanding from said cross member 15 is a frame portion 53 substantially parallelepiped in form having rearward upstanding members 54 and 55 secured to said member 15 and forward upstanding members 56 and 57 respectively connected to said rearward upstanding members by upper cross members 59 and 60. Respectively extending transversely between said upstanding members 54 and 55 is a cross member 62, and between said members 56 and 57 is a cross member 63. Spaced below said cross member 62 is a cross member 65. Extending forwardly at either side of said frame portion 53 are transversely spaced members 68 and 69 having right-angled forward upturned portions secured to plate member 72, which in turn is bolted to a housing mounted atop the upper end portion of said shaft 38.

Supported on said frame portion 53 extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof are upstanding substantially rectangular side portions 79 and 80, as indicated in FIGS. 4, 7 .and 9. Said side 79 has end members 79a and 7% having facing plates 79c and 79d having a shaft 82 mounted therebetween. Said side 80 has end members 80a and 80b having facing plates 80c and 80d having a shaft 83 mounted therebetween in transverse alinement with said shaft 82. Said sides 79 and 80 will be secured to said supporting frame portion 53 in a suitable manner, as by bolts 85.

Mounted for sliding movement on said shafts 82 and 83 is a meter box 88, as indicated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9. Said box is substantially parallelepiped in form comprising a plurality of vertically disposed open-ended slots or pockets 89 therein shown here to be twenty-four in number. Said meter box is mounted on said shafts by hubs 90 and 91 extending outwardly at either side thereof and being bored to have said shafts respectively extend therethrough. Said pockets in said meter box in the present embodiment of the applicants invention are adapted to receive articles 95 here indicated as being formed as popsicles. Forming a bottom plate and extending between said sides 79 and 80 is a plate member 96 adapted to extend the full length of said sides and underlie said meter box. Said plate 96 preferably will be apertured whereby the drippings from the popsicles will fall through to a drip pan 97 therebelow which will be drained by a hose 98, and said plate will have a transverse slot 96a therein and thereacross, as indicated in FIG. 8.

Said meter box 88 is shown having openings 88a in the wall structure thereof for aeration purposes. Extending outwardly of said hub 91 is a stub shaft 100 having a portion 100a of reduced dimension adjacent the outer end thereof. Engaging said shaft portion 100:: is the upper slotted end of a lever 102 pivoted at its substantially central point by a bolt 103 to a cross frame member 104 extending between sides 55 and 56 and being secured at either end thereto by bolts 106.

Journaled in bearings 108 and 109 at opposite sides of said frame portion 53 is a shaft 112 extending outwardly at either side of said frame. Secured to said shaft 112 adjacent the right side of said frame portion 53, as viewed in FIG. 4, is a sprocket 114 having a sprocket chain 115 pass thereover and around a sprocket 117 mounted on a shaft 119 of a gear reduction box 120 secured to a plate bracket 122 mounted on a side member 124 of said frame portion. Carried on said shaft is a cam wheel 125. Extending outwardly of the lower end of lever 102 is a roller 102a adapted to be disposed in and guided by an inner side cam track 126 of said cam 125 whereby said lever is actuated by said cam to move said meter box 88 forwardly and rearwardly.

Bagging structure Mounted forwardly transversely of the frame member portion 53, as indicated in FIG. 8, and in vertical alinement with said slot 96a is a plurality of dividers 130 depending from inwardly extending fingers 131a integral with a cross frame member 131 and thus forming channels 132 respectively in alinement with the pockets or compartments 89 in the meter box 88. Said channels 132 have rear and front enclosures to form guides for said popsicles 95 as they drop therethrough. A plate 134 extends transversely across the rear of said dividers 130 supported by a cross frame member 135 by bolts 137.

Said plate member 134 extends upwardly to be closely adjacent the bottom of said meter box 88 and down- Wardly to a point in alinement with the bottom of said dividers. As indicated in FIG. 4, said plate 134 has inverted substantially U-shaped notches 134a positioned to be centrally of each of said channels 132.

Extending across the front of said dividers 130 is a plate member 138 somewhat less in height and depth than said plate 134 and is suitably secured to a cross frame member '139. Forming channels or slots 141 extending rearwardly of said channels 132 in alinement therewith are transversely spaced longitudinally extending dividers 143 having substantially horizontal top edge portions and having rearwardly upwardly curved bottom edge portions. Said channels have open fronts 144, open rear ends 147, and an enclosed bottom formed by a plate member 146. Said bottom plate 146 will follow the curvature of the bottom edge of said dividers 143 and has a forward upstanding flange 146a of short height and formed to be quite flexible. Said bottom plate 146 and the dividers 147 upstanding therefrom are supported as by welding by an angled plate member 150 extending transversely of said frame member portion 53 suitably secured and supported therein.

Adapted to be stacked in vertical position in said slots 141 are quantities of containers 153 here shown in the form of bags adapted to be supported in operating position at their upper and lower ends by the bottom end portion of said plate 134 and the upstanding flange 146a. The front upper edge portions 153a of said bags are somewhat shorter than are the rear edge portions, as is indicated in FIG. 8. Respectively disposed in said slots 141 to provide weight against the rear of said bags 153 are weights 156 which may be of any suitable form, such as cylindrical, and adapted to be respectively disposed into said slots.

Adapted to support said bags 153 when first loaded with popsicles before moving on to the next step in the handling of the same is a ledge 160 which exends transversely of said frame 53 in alinement beneath said channels 132. Said ledge is indicated here as being substantially rectangular in cross section secured at its outer side edge to a shaft 162 journaled at either end in framesupported brackets 164, with said shaft being integral ad acent either end with arms 166 connected by straight and right-angled links 168 and 169 respectively to cranks 171 which are respectively secured to a shaft 172 journaled in a frame supported bracket 175. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4, said shaft 172 extends outwardly to have its outer end journaled in a frame supported bearing bracket 178 and having a link 179 secured to said shaft adjacent said bracket with an arm 182 pivoted to said link at its lower end and to said shaft 112 centrally thereof with a cam roller 184 carried at its upper end and with said cam roller being disposed in cam track a of cam 190, said cam being mounted on said shaft 112. Said cam track provides for four distinct cycles, as is clearly indicated in FIG. 1.

Extending between vertical frame members 56 and 57 is a rod 56a, as indicated in FIG. 9, adapted to provide support to popsicles 95 while the same are supported on the ledge 160 and prior to being dropped downwardly.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 8, a pair of transversely spaced blocks 191 are supported on frame member 65 and respectively have extending forwardly therethrough rods 192 each having a sliding block 193 thereon having a depending rearwardly extending yoke-like portion 193a adapted to have disposed therethrough the links 169 whereby said blocks 193 will guide said links 169 to be moved directly forwardly and rearwardly when reciprocated and to prevent any sidewise movement.

Said plate member 138 will have connected thereto for communication with the channels 132 a plurality of air hoses 200 connected to a suitable source of air under pressure, as will hereinafter be indicated, with the air flow being directed to enter into the tops of the bags 153 for the purpose of blowing open said bags and have the front portions thereof come forward free from the holding effect of the lower edge of plate 134. Said air enters said bags through said inverted U-shaped notches 134a, as indicated in FIG. 8. The bags are formed to have the front portions thereof somewhat lesser in height than the rear portions so that the air enters readily between the front and rear portions of the bags to inflate the same by blowing the front sides of the bags forwardly to prepare said bags to receive said popsicles therein.

Depending from transversely spaced pairs of brackets 205 respectively secured to frame members 68 and 69 as indicated with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, are fiat plate-like guide members 207 and 208 having portions extending substantially directly downwardly and having lower portions inclined outwardly away from one another and being positioned respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said channels 132. Said plate members will be secured to be substantially rigid in position.

Spaced between longitudinally spaced. pairs of said brackets 205 and mounted on frame members 68 and 69 are bearing brackets 210 having a shaft 212 journaled therein.

Secured to said shaft 212 is a flipper member 215 formed of spaced transversely extending plate members 215a and 21517 secured to end plate enclosures 216 at the outer ends thereof and one being positioned intermediate the ends thereof, as indicated in FIG. 4, whereby two side by side sections are formed each having a width of three of said channels 132. Said plate members 216 will be secured to said shaft to reciprocate with the movement of said shaft. An arm 220 is secured to an outer end of said shaft 212 having a roller 221 extending outwardly from the free end thereof. An elongated cam actuated arm-like member 224 is pivoted at its upper end to frame member 54 by a pivot member 226 and is provided with a split lower end portion 224a adapted to have roller 221 disposed therein and having a cam follower 224b carried thereby adjacent an upper central portion thereof with said follower adapted to be disposed in the cam track 189:: of cam 189.

Turntable structure Mounted on said substantially circular turntable 42 at ninety degrees intervals are tray units identical in construction and identified generally by the character 230. While said tray units may be variously formed, each unit is shown comprising a pair of trays 231 and 232 each being substantially rectangular in plan respectively having upstanding walls 231a and 232a thereabout with said walls having somewhat outwardly inclined upper portions. Said turntable 42 will have portions cut out therefrom to have open bottoms for said tray units, and said tray units are mounted onto said turntable in such a manner as to respectively have a sliding bottom or curtain 234 with a knob 233 upstanding from said curtain between each of said trays 231 and 232. Said trays are positioned on said turntable so that when in a rearward position to the right, as indicated in FIG. l, a tray unit 230 will be directly below said guide plates 207 and 208 to receive popsicles dropping therebetween from said flipper members 215. Said tray units are of the same width as said meter box 88 with each of the trays 231 and 232 respectively adapted to have deposited therein three popsicles in a side by side position and of a length to accommodate two such rows of popsicles with the handle portions 95a thereof in overlapping position.

Said turntable is rotated by shaft 38 which is driven by means to be hereinafter described.

Said housing 75 is somewhat triangular in form in plan, as indicated in FIG. 3, having some height and having a somewhat cylindrically formed rear end portion 75a supported by an upwardly extending portion of said shaft 38 being journaled thereinto. Said plate bracket 72 is bolted to the upper end of said portion 75a. Said housing 75 is formed to act as a guiding and supporting member peculiarly adapted to applicants apparatus. The forward wider portion of said housing 75 is formed to have two forwardly extending ear portions 75b and 756 having vertical bores therethrough with rod-like plungers 235 and 236 respectively disposed through said bores. Said plungers have coiled springs 237 disposed about their lower end portions with the upper portions of the springs bearing against the lower portions of said ears and the lower ends of said springs being retained by the hub portions of positioning plunger plates 238 and 239 respectively secured to the lower ends of the plungers 235 and 236. Said plunger plates are adapted to be received into said trays 231 and 232 respectively.

Mounted on said bracket 72 and extending transversely thereof is an L-shaped bracket 240 having mounted adjacent either end thereof bearing brackets 242 and 244, and journaled therebetween is-a shaft 246. Forwardly extending from said shaft and secured thereto in spaced relation are arms 248 and 249 connected at their free ends by a cross member 250 having secured thereto the upper ends of said plungers 235 and 236. Overlying said brackets 232 and 234 is a substantially parallelepiped manifold 253.

Secured to said shaft 246 at its left-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 2, is an arm 255 having pivoted thereto an arm 256 having an open framework 256a mounted on its free end portion with said framework being secured to said shaft 112 and with said arm 256 being slidable within said framework by means of a cam follower 25Gb being actuated by cam 127 adapted to move said arm 256 forwardly to raise said plungers 235 and 236. Said plungers fall by action of gravity with downward thrust being added by springs 237. Said springs also tend to cushion the upward movement of said plungers.

Secured to the upper portion of said housing are a pair of spaced bearing brackets 260 and 261 having a shaft 263 journaled therebetween. Depending from said shaft and secured thereto is an arm 265 having a split lower end portion adapted and positioned to be engaged by said knob 233 as said knob is brought into engagement therewith by rotation of said turntable 42. Said shaft has secured thereto a train of links 270, 271 and 272 pivoted to a lever 275, with said lever being pivoted at its upper end to a plate bracket 267 carried by bracket 72 and having pivoted to its lower end an arm 279. Said arm 279 has its free end slidable in a framework 279a secured to shaft 112 and carried at its free end a cam follower 281 adapted to be moved by the cam 128 in a direction to move said arm 265 forwardly or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5.

Secured to said shaft 263 and at an angle to said arm 270 is an arm 282 having secured to its free end one end of a coil spring 283 with the other end of said spring being secured to a cross member 284 secured to a bottom portion of said housing 75, with said spring extending downwardly through the open portion of said casting. Said spring will tend to move said arm 282 downwardly and said arm 265 rearwardly when said arm is not under pressure from said cam 128.

A hose 290 connects the air manifold 253 with an impeller 292 here shown to be circular in form and connected to a motor 293 to be driven directly thereby with said motor being mounted on a suitable base 294. Thus there is here provided a large volume of air in continuous supply at low pressure and at high velocity.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 11 and 12, T-shaped arms 300 having spaced upstanding prongs 301 at their T portions are secured at their other ends to a shaft 303 journaled in frame-supported brackets 305, with said shaft having secured thereto an arm 306 pivoted to a plunger 307 disposable in an air cylinder 308 with said plunger being actuated in said cylinder by an air valve 310 which is operated by the reciprocation of arm 166. Said valve 310 will be connected to said cylinder 308 in a manner Well known in the art, and also to said compressor 48. Said prongs 301 will be moved upwardly and downwardly through transversely spaced apertures 234a in the bottom 234 of said tray units 230. Only one arm 300 is here illustrated, but an arm will be provided for each of the tray units 231 and 232.

Driving structure Mounted adjacent the base of said shaft 38 and adapted to drive the same is a toothed gear 315 of a suitable size. Driving said gear 315 is a meshing gear 317 secured to a shaft 320 suitably mounted on a base 322, and mounted above said gear 317 is a Geneva type gear 325 which is rotated by a gear 327 having a projecting portion 327a adapted to engage the notches 325a of said gear 325.

Said gear 327 is mounted on a shaft 330 having secured thereto a sprocket 332, and passing over said sprocket and over sprocket 335 on the diiveshaft of motor 52 is a chain 337. A sprocket 339 is also secured to shaft 330, and passing over said sprocket and over a sprocket 342 secured to a shaft 345 which drives gear box 120 is a chain 347.

Conveying structure Positioned at the front of applicants apparatus and transversely thereof for cooperation with the turntable structure, as indicated in FIu'S. 2 and 3, is a conveying structure 350 comprising an elongated framework 352 parallelepiped in form having ends 353 and 354 supported on leveling screws 353a and 354a respectively with upstanding sides 355 and 356 extending therebetween at either side of a top surface 357.

Secured to the end 353 are adjustable bearing blocks 360 having a shaft 361 extending therebetween and secured to said shaft are spaced sprockets 362. Mounted at the end 354 are bearing blocks 364, as indicated in FIG. 3, with said bearing blocks having a shaft 365 journ-aled t herebetween and secured to said shaft are spaced sprockets 366. Passing over said sprockets with its top run passing over the top surface 357 is a belt 370 adapted to be driven by said sprocket gears and comprising compartments 371 thereon formed by upstanding dividers 371:: with each compartment being adapted to retain therein a container 374 with said compartments being grouped in pairs and adapted to be placed in register with each of said tray units 230 respectively as said units are moved to position forwardly by said turntable 42. Each of the containers 374 will be of a size in plan identical with the size of said trays 231 and 232.

Mounted ad acent the outer side of said conveyor structure 350, as indicated in FIG. 2, and extending in the direction of the end 354 is a shelf 375 supported by the frame work 352. Mounted at the outer end portion of said shelf 375 in longitudinally spaced relation are bearing blocks 380 and 381 respectively having shafts 382 and the outer end of shaft 365 jou-rnaled therein with said shafts having mounted thereon sprockets 385 and 386 having a chain 387 pass thereover. Mounted on said shelf 375 in longitudinal alinement with said chain 387 and suitably supported thereon is an air cylinder 390 having air hoses 392 and 393 respectively communicating with the ends thereof and having a piston 395 adapted to extend forwardly between said bearing blocks 380 and 381 and carrying at its free end a sliding block 397. Carried on said block 397 is a hook-like member 398 adapted to be depressed to engage the chain 387 to move the same to the right, as viewed in P16. 2, when the cylinder 395 is moved to the right and adapted to be raised out of engagement with said chain when moved to the left. This is a commonly used construct-ion and it is not believed further detail is necessary.

Said hoses 392 and 393 are respectively secured to an air control valve 287 which will be connected to the air compressor 48. Said air valve 287 has an arm 287a actuated by a earn 290 secured to a shaft 291 journaled in a bracket 292, which bracket is secured to the gear box 120, and carried on said shaft 291 is a sprocket 295 driven by a chain 296 passing over a sprocket 298 secured to shaft 112. Said air valve is of a two-way type in common usage which will alternately deliver air pressure to the hoses 392 and 393 which are connected to diiferent ends of the cylinder 390 to reciprocate the piston 395.

Operation In operation, the meter box 88 will be charged or filled with popsicles 95 by a suitable conveying means, which means forms no part of the present invention. In the embodiment of the invention here disclosed, the meter box is adapted to hold twenty-four popsicles in transverse rows of six which are discharged in cycles of six on a row at a time. The plate member 96 forms a bottom cover for said meter box, and formed in said plate member is the transversely extending slot 96a through which said rows of said popsicles drop through as said rows come into alinement with said slot. Said meter box is moved forwardly by action of the arm 102 being reciprocated by the inner side cam track 126 of the cam 125.

A supply of bags 153 are loaded into the slots 141 with the weights 156 applying pressure therebehind and being retained in position by the depending portion of plate 134 and the upstanding flange 146a. The front portions of said bags 153 are cut to be somewhat lower than the rear sides. Mounted in connection with the plate 138 are hose members 200 disposed through said plate in alinement with each of said slots 141 and being positioned somewhat above the upper edge portions of said bag-s 153. Said hoses 200 are connected to the manifold 253 and from thence by hose 290 with the impeller 292 which will be continuously operated to provide a substantial volume of low pressure air to continually blow against the upper edge portions of the bags 153 through the inverted U notches 134a. The air will have suflicient pressure to enter at the front edge portion of the bags and inflate the bags to pull said front edge portion away from the restraining effect of the member 134 to the position indicated in FIG. 8.

The popsicles dropping down from said meter box 88 will respectively drop into the open bags alined therewith and positioned therebelow, and said popsicles will be guided at each side by the guide members 134 When the popsicles come into the bags they do so with sufiicient force to spread the bottom edge portions of the bags sufficiently to urge them out of engagement with the flexible flange 146a and to cause the bags to drop downwardly to be supported on the ledge 160, as indicated in FIG. 9, with the bags being inclined against the supporting rod 56a. In its initial position said ledge 160 will be in a horizontal position. Said ledge 160 through linkage connected therewith and in connection with shaft 172 and arm 182 is actuated by the cam follower 184 in connection with the cam track 19011 of the cam 190. Said ledge 160 will be cycled in its movement to coincide with the forward movement of the meter box 88 to provide support for each row of popsicles filling said b ags 153 to have said row of bags evenly alined before going on to the next step.

Said rows of popsicles are respectively dropped with the withdrawal of the ledge 160 onto the slide formed by the flipper members 215.

The rotation of the turntable 42 will be cycled to be in harmony with the movement of the popsicles whereby said tray units 230 will be positioned, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, to receive a row of said popsicles as they are guided downwardly by the flippers 215. Each of the trays of the tray unit 230 will first receive three popsicles positioned in trays 231 and 232 respectively, as indicated in- FIG. 12. The popsicles hit the leading edge of the trays and fall rearwardly with their stems in the direction of the opposite ends of the trays. As said ledge is moved to release the popsicles, the arm 166 actuates the valve 319 which releases air pressure to actuate the arm 300 and the prongs 301 to extend upwardly into said trays at the rear of the popsicles to hold the same in position.

Said tray unit 230 will remain in position until the next row of popsicles is dropped and the flipper 215 will be reversely inclined oppositely the direction in which it is indicated as being inclined in FIG. 9, and will be turned by connecting structure through the action of the cam 189 having the cam follower 2241) moving in the cam track 189a whereby the second row of popsicles to come into the tray unit 230 will be positioned oppositely of the popsicles shown in 212 with the handles a respectively being in overlapping position. Said turntable 42 as rotated by the Geneva gear 325 will then rotate at intervals of ninety degrees bringing a new tray unit 230 into position to be loaded with each movement. When the turntable 42 has turned 180 degrees the first loaded tray unit will be in a forward position, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The conveyor structure 350 will be positioned and timed to have containers thereon moved into position to be in vertical alinement with the loaded trays 230 ready to receive popsicles therefrom. As a tray 230 in loaded condition is positioned above the containers 374, the knob 233 will move into engagement with the lower forwardly extending split arm portion of the arm 265, and at this instant said arm will be released by the cam 123 and swung to a rearward position by action of the spring 283 to witlidraw rearwardly the bottom curtain 234 from the tray unit 230. Timed with the action of the withdrawal of the curtain 234 is the action of the plungers 235' and 236, which through connecting linkage will be released by the cam 127 to fall by gravity urged somewhat by the action of the springs 237 to move downwardly with the popsicles as they drop through to the containers 374 to position and closely pack the popsicles in said containers. The conveyor belt may be timed so that the containers thereon may respectively receive any predetermined numbers or layers of popsicles as may be desired. The conveyor is moved by the reciprocal action of the air cylinder 390 which is operated by compressed air controlled through the hoses 392 and 393 in connection with the air valve 287 and the compressor 48.

The containers 374 will be unloaded from the conveyor structure 350 in any desired manner.

Thus it is seen that I have provided, a compact, nicely coordinated popsicle packaging apparatus carefully adapted for and proved to be efficient in operation and is timed to handle normally 1200 popsicles per minute. This handling removes the popsicles from any contact by human hands and provides an efiicient low cost per unit and sanitary packaging operation.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for receiving and packaging popsicles having in combination, a receiving member comprising a plurality of transversely alined rows of pockets respectively to receive popsicles therein, a first retaining means for removably retaining said popsicles in said member, a plurality of alined channels vertically disposed to have said member pass thereover, means for advancing said member to respectively aline said rows of said member in register with said channels, means for respectively retaining a plurality of envelopes in operative association with each of said channels, means in connection with each of said channels for respectively engaging the foremost of said envelopes .in connection with each of said channels to open the same to receive said popsicles, a second retaining means comprising a ledge in cooperative association with the movement of'said receiving member to receive and support in upright position said envelopes loaded with said popsicles, means for withdrawing said ledge from said popsicles and actuating said first mentioned means for advancing said member guide means for receiving said popsicles in said envelopes from said ledge and directing the same, a receptacle for receiving said popsicles from said guide means, .said receptacle comprising upstanding sides and having a movable bottom therein, an endless belt in an operative relationship with said receptacle, a plurality of cartons carried on said belt at spaced intervals adapted to be moved into vertical alinement with said receptacles to receive popsicles therefrom, and means for discharging said popsicles from said receptacle and packing the same into said cartons.

2. An apparatus for receiving and packaging popsicles having in combination, a receiving member comprising a plurality of transversely alined rows of pockets respectively to receive popsicles therein, a second member having a slot therein transversely alined with said receiving member to have the rows of said member respectively come into register therewith, means for moving said receiving member to register the rows thereof with said slot, a plurality of vetrically disposed channels having their upper ends in register with said slot, means for removably retaining a plurality of upstanding envelopes in operative association with each of said channels, means in connection with each of said channels for engaging the foremost of said envelopes in connection with each of said channels to open the same to respectively receive popsicles passing down said channels, a ledge for removably supporting said envelopes loaded with said popsicles, means for simultaneously withdrawing said ledge from said loaded envelopes and for moving said receiving member to register the next row therein with said slot and channels therebeneath for passage of the next row of said Popsicles through said channels, plate members respectively in connection with said channels mounted on reciprocating shaft for forming a radially flipping slide member for oppositely positioning said popsicles, receptacles in alinement with said plate members for receiving said Popsicles therefrom alternately in opposite sides thereof, an endless belt, a plurality of spaced cartons carried on said belt moved into alinement with said receptacles to receive popsicles therefrom, said receptacles having removable bottoms, means for removing said bottom from said receptacles when the same come into alinement with said cartons, and means for discharging said popsicles from said receptacles into said cartons.

3. An apparatus for receiving and packaging popsicles having handles thereon having in combination, a receiving member substantially parallelepiped in form comprising a plurality of transversely alined rows respectively to receive said popsicles therein, a plate member underlying said member having a slot therein to have the respective rows of pockets of said receiving member brought into register therewith, a plurality of vertically disposed channels in register with said slot and adapted to have each of said rows of pockets respectively brought into register therewith, means for removably retaining a supply of envelopes in connection with each of said channels, an air hose in connection with each of said channels connected to an air source under pressure, said air hose discharging said air under pressure to engage and inflate the foremost of said envelopes in connection with each of said channels to position said envelopes to respectively receive said popsicles, means for removably supporting said envelopes loaded with said popsicles, means for withdrawing said supporting means from said envelopes with popsicles therein and for advancing said first member to register the next row of popsicles therein with said slot and said channels, a plurality of receptacles to be respectively positioned to receive said popsicles from said channels, guide means in cooperation with said channels to receive and guide said popsicles from said channels into said receptacles, said guide means comprising plate slide members to be alternately reversely in clined with each succeeding row of popsicles received thereby to position said popsicles to engage opposite ends of said receptacles whereby said popsicles fall .forwardly into position from said ends with the opposite of said popsicles having their handles cross engage one another, a conveying means in operative association with said receptacles, a plurality of spaced containers carried by said conveying means to be respectively brought into register with said receptacles, removable bottoms in said receptacles, means for withdrawing said bottoms from said receptacles when said receptacles are respectively in 11' register with said containers, and means for pressing said popsicles into said containers for packing the same therein.

4. An apparatus for receiving and packaging popsicles having handles thereon 'having in combination, a receiving member substantially parallelepiped in form comprising a plurality of transversely alined rows of pockets respectively to receive said popsicles therein, a plate member underlying said receiving member having a slot therein to have the respective rows of pockets of said receiving member brought into register therewith, a plurality of vertically disposed channels in register with said slot and adapted to have each of said rows of pockets respectively brought into register therewith, a plurality of chutes extending transversely of said channels and opening into downward extensions thereof, upper and lower flanges respectively at said openings of said chutes, said upper flanges respectively having inverted U-shaped notches therein, said lower flanges having substantial flexibility, a supply of envelopes in each of said chutes retained therein by said flanges, said envelopes constructed to have their front sides of lesser height than their rear sides whereby the upper edge portions of said front sides are exposed through said notches, weighted means in said chutes respectively pressing said envelopes against said flanges, an air hose in connection with each of said chutes connected to a source of air under pressure, said air hose being constructed and arranged to discharge said air under pressure to engage and inflate the foremost of each of said envelopes respectively in said chutes to position said envelopes to underlie the bottoms of said channels to respectively receive said popsicles whereby when said popsicles are dropped into said envelopes said envelopes are urged out of said chutes by being jerked over said lower flexible flange, means in connection with said chutes for removably supporting said envelopes loaded with said popsicles, means for withdrawing said supporting means from said envelopes and for advancing said first member to register the next row of popsicles therein with said slots and said channels, a plurality of receptacles to be respectively positioned to receive said popsicles from said chutes, guide means to receive and guide said popsicles from said chutes into said receptacles, said guide means comprising slide members adapted to be alternately reversely inclined with each succeeding rows of popsicles received to position said popsicles to engage opposite ends of said receptacles whereby said popsicles fall forwardly into position from said ends, a conveying means in operative association with said receptacles, a plurality of spaced containers carried by said conveying means adapted to be respectively brought into register with said receptacles, removable bottoms in said receptacles, means for withdrawing said bottoms from said receptacles when said receptacles are respectively in register with said containers, and means for pressing said popsicles into said containers for packing the same therein.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said last mentioned means comprising plungers in operative association with said receptacles whereby when said bottoms are withdrawn from said receptacles said plungers are moved into and through said receptacles to press and pack said popsicles into said containers, and means for returning said plungers to starting position and returning said bottoms to said receptacles.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4, said receptacles respectively having a plurality of apertures extending centrally transversely thereof, and means carried by said apparatus adapted to be in register with said apertures to engage popsicles within said receptacles to hold the same in position,'with said means being actuated by and 12 coordinated with the withdrawal of said supporting means by said means withdrawing said supporting means.

7. The structure set forth in claim 4, said receptacles respectively having a plurality of apertures extending centrally transversely thereof, arms pivoted to a frame member of said apparatus in operative relationship to said receptacles when said receptacles are respectively positioned to receive popsicles therein, a plurality of upstanding prongs at the free ends of said arms to be moved upwardly through said apertures, means actuated by said means for withdrawing said supporting means and moving said arms to move said prongs through said apertures in coordination with popsicles being guided into and loaded into said receptacles to engage said popsicles to hold the same in position and to be withdrawn from therein when said receptacles are moved out of position to receive popsicles therein.

8. An apparatus for receiving and packaging popsicles having handles thereon having in combination, a receiving member substantially parallelepiped in form comprising a plurality of transversely alined rows of pockets re spectively to receive said popsicles therein, a plate member underlying said member having a slot therein to have the respective rows of pockets of said receiving member brought into register therewith, said plate member having a plurality of apertures therein, a shallow pan-like member underlying said plate member at an angle thereto for receiving moisture dripping through said plate member from the melting of said popsicles, means for draining said pan-like member, a plurality of vertically disposed channels in register with said slot and adapted to have each of said rows of pockets respectively brought into register therewith, means for removably retaining a supply of envelopes in connection with each of said channels, an air hose in connection with each of said channels connected to an air source under pressure, said air hose discharging said air under pressure to engage and inflate the foremost of said envelopes in connection with each of said channels to position said envelopes to respectively receive said popsicles, means for removably supporting said envelopes loaded with said popsicles, means for withdrawing said supporting means from said envelopes with popsicles therein and for ad vancing said first members to register the next rowof popsicles therein with said slot and said channels, a plurality of receptacles to be respectively positioned to receive said popsicles from said channels, guide means in cooperation with said channels to receive and guide popsicles from said channels into said receptacles, said guide means comprising plate slide members to be alternately reversely inclined with each succeeding row of popsicles received thereby to position said popsicles to engage opposite ends of said receptacles whereby said popsicles fall forwardly into position from said ends with the opposite of said popsicles having their handles cross engage one another, a conveying means in operative association with said receptacles, a plurality of spaced containers carried by said conveying means to be respectively brought into register with said receptacles, removably bottoms in said receptacles, means for withdrawing said bottoms from said receptacles when said receptacles are respectively in register with said containers, and means for pressing said popsicles into said containers for packing the same therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,517 Hellman Mar. 3, 1931 2,697,541 Patterson Dec. 21, 1954 2,721,015 Canales Oct. 18, 1955 

